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The Official Launch of  

JAPAN MATTERS FOR AMERICA / 
AMERICA MATTERS FOR JAPAN 

Tuesday, February 7, 2022 
4:00 – 6:00 PM ET  

In-person only; doors close at 4:30pm


Speakers included:  

Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, President, East-West Center 

Dr. Satu P. Limaye, Vice President, East-West Center & Director, Research Program and East-West Center in Washington 

Aya Murata, Director and Senior Program Officer, Japan-US Program, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI), United States Senate

Ambassador Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the USA 

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, US Ambassador to Japan (Video Remarks) 

Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Co-Chair, Congressional Japan Caucus  

Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-2), United States House of Representatives

Senator Bill Hagerty (TN), United States Senate (Video Remarks) 

Dr. Siddharth Mohandas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asia, OSD-Policy/Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, US Department of Defense 

Pamela Phan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce

Komei Isozaki, Japan Chair Fellow, Hudson Institute

James L. Schoff, Senior Director, US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative, Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA 

Dr. Michael Auslin, Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia, Hoover Institution, Stanford University 

Tomoko Hosaka Mullaney, Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Business Council 

Dr. Mireya Solis, Director, Center for East Asia Policy Studies; Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, Brookings Institution

Emma Chanlett-Avery, Vice Chair for Board of Trustees, National Association of Japan-America Societies

Paige Cottingham-Streater, Executive Director, Japan-US Friendship Commission; Board Chair, US Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association (USJETAA)  


The East-West Center, with the support of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, held the launch for Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan, the premier resource for data and analysis on the relationship between the United States and Japan relating to diplomacy, defense and security, trade and investment, education and cultural exchange, and more. 

The Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan publication and website maps the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the United States and Japan at the national, state, and local levels. The Asia Matters for America initiative is a collaborative partnership with US and Indo-Pacific government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to recognize and advance the robust and dynamic US-Indo-Pacific relationship. Funding for the Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan project was provided by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. 

Produced by the East-West Center and Sasakawa Peace Foundation, this edition of Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan brings to light important facts and figures, including that:  

  • The United States and Japan share long-standing economic, military and cultural relationships; 
  • The United States and Japan are partners on global issues such as climate change and COVID-19; 
  • The US-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific; 
  • The United States is Japan’s 2nd largest export destination, and Japan is the 4th largest export destination of the United States; 
  • Trade and investment from Japan have created almost 1 million jobs across the US; 
  • The US is the top destination for Japanese investment and the largest investor in Japan; 
  • The United States and Japan are partners in furthering global technology and innovation; 
  • Pre-COVID-19, Japan was the largest source of visitors to the US among Indo-Pacific countries; 
  • The United States and Japan promote education exchange at all levels; 
  • 430,000 Japanese nationals live in the United States and 160,000 Americans live in Japan;  
  • The United States and Japan share nearly 460 sister partnerships and; 
  • US-Japan relations are sustained by strong community and people-to-people connections. 

The Official Launch of  

JAPAN MATTERS FOR AMERICA / 
AMERICA MATTERS FOR JAPAN 

Tuesday, February 7, 2022 
4:00 – 6:00 PM ET  

In-person only; doors close at 4:30pm


Speakers included:  

Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, President, East-West Center 

Dr. Satu P. Limaye, Vice President, East-West Center & Director, Research Program and East-West Center in Washington 

Aya Murata, Director and Senior Program Officer, Japan-US Program, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI), United States Senate

Ambassador Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the USA 

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, US Ambassador to Japan (Video Remarks) 

Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Co-Chair, Congressional Japan Caucus  

Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-2), United States House of Representatives

Senator Bill Hagerty (TN), United States Senate (Video Remarks) 

Dr. Siddharth Mohandas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asia, OSD-Policy/Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, US Department of Defense 

Pamela Phan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce

Komei Isozaki, Japan Chair Fellow, Hudson Institute

James L. Schoff, Senior Director, US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative, Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA 

Dr. Michael Auslin, Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia, Hoover Institution, Stanford University 

Tomoko Hosaka Mullaney, Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Business Council 

Dr. Mireya Solis, Director, Center for East Asia Policy Studies; Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, Brookings Institution

Emma Chanlett-Avery, Vice Chair for Board of Trustees, National Association of Japan-America Societies

Paige Cottingham-Streater, Executive Director, Japan-US Friendship Commission; Board Chair, US Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association (USJETAA)  


The East-West Center, with the support of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, held the launch for Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan, the premier resource for data and analysis on the relationship between the United States and Japan relating to diplomacy, defense and security, trade and investment, education and cultural exchange, and more. 

The Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan publication and website maps the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the United States and Japan at the national, state, and local levels. The Asia Matters for America initiative is a collaborative partnership with US and Indo-Pacific government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to recognize and advance the robust and dynamic US-Indo-Pacific relationship. Funding for the Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan project was provided by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. 

Produced by the East-West Center and Sasakawa Peace Foundation, this edition of Japan Matters for America / America Matters for Japan brings to light important facts and figures, including that:  

  • The United States and Japan share long-standing economic, military and cultural relationships; 
  • The United States and Japan are partners on global issues such as climate change and COVID-19; 
  • The US-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific; 
  • The United States is Japan’s 2nd largest export destination, and Japan is the 4th largest export destination of the United States; 
  • Trade and investment from Japan have created almost 1 million jobs across the US; 
  • The US is the top destination for Japanese investment and the largest investor in Japan; 
  • The United States and Japan are partners in furthering global technology and innovation; 
  • Pre-COVID-19, Japan was the largest source of visitors to the US among Indo-Pacific countries; 
  • The United States and Japan promote education exchange at all levels; 
  • 430,000 Japanese nationals live in the United States and 160,000 Americans live in Japan;  
  • The United States and Japan share nearly 460 sister partnerships and; 
  • US-Japan relations are sustained by strong community and people-to-people connections.